Introduction

The Journey of Discovery project is a collaborative effort between the “World Reimagined” and other established organisations that spanned across the entire of England and beyond. The project explores the legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in building the financial and trading power of Britain, strengthening the Church, and other aspects of our past as humans. As part of the project, 103 unique globes were created across the UK, exploring the history, legacy, and future of the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans through the work of incredible artists. To facilitate the project, we were tasked with designing and developing a bespoke web application with a management system for the globes and a trails that allows users to create an account, walk the trails, and collect rewards as a gamification aspect of it. Additionally, we were tasked with designing and developing a web app that showcases the project’s objectives and provides immersive and interactive experiences for users.

Objective

Our goal was to design and develop a web app that showcases the project’s objectives and immerses users in the rich cultural and historical significance of the project. The web app should have a modern and responsive design that reflects the project’s branding and allows for seamless navigation. It should also integrate a three.js spinning interactive globe animation with content management, Welsh translation, and a user portal.

Solution

To achieve these goals, we:

Designed a modern, responsive website with a 360-degree spinning interactive globe animation as the homepage. Users can interact with the globe and explore the various globes across the UK, each with its unique artist and story.
Developed a customised content management system that makes it easy for the client to manage the globes’ information, including artist information, stories, and images.
Created an immersive 3D design that allows users to dive deep into the project’s history and legacy through videos, images, and interactive elements.
Integrated a trail app that allows users to create an account, walk the trails, and collect rewards as a gamification aspect of the project.
Designed a unique logo that reflects the project’s branding and values.
Integrated Welsh translation to make the website accessible to a wider audience.
Created a user portal that allows teachers to access the education syllabus and learning resources and students to engage with the project’s immersive experiences.

Results

The Journey of Discovery app has been performing well since its launch. Our solutions have resulted in:

An immersive and interactive website that engages users and showcases the project’s objectives and significance.
Improved user experience due to the intuitive layout and user-friendly interface.
Increased engagement and participation from teachers and students due to the teacher and student user portal and immersive experiences.
Improved brand visibility due to the integration of SEO and social media.
Positive feedback from users and stakeholders on the website’s design, interactivity, and accessibility.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Journey of Discovery web application and website design and development project was a success, resulting in a user-friendly platform that showcases the project’s rich history and cultural significance. The website has been optimised for performance and security, with immersive and interactive experiences, mobile-friendly design, and branding and storytelling features. It has helped increase engagement and participation from teachers and students, improve brand visibility, and establish an emotional connection with users.